FOR VALOUR AND GALLANTRY
The Light Infantry was formed in 1968 following the amalgamation of its former County Light Infantry Regiments. The following will list the ‘bravest of the brave’ – those who have been awarded honours for Valour and Gallantry in the Service of their Regiment. In addition to those listed, there are numberous examples of individuals awarded the other honours and awards. Anyone wanting to identify their names should contact RHQ LI (for soldiers since 1968) or the appropriate County Office.
Click on the medals to view the names of those Light Infantrymen awarded medals for Valour and Gallantry - Cede Nullis:
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Victoria Cross |
George Cross |
George Medal |
Military Cross |
Military Medal |
Queen's Gallantry Medal |
British Empire Medal |
THE VICTORIA CROSS
The Victoria Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant of 29 January 1856, made retrospective to the autumn of 1854 to cover the Crimean War. Prior to this conflict the Sovereign had no means for rewarding junior officers and other ranks in the army and navy for 'signal acts of valour or devotion in the presence of the enemy'.
There have been various changes to the conditions for award of the VC since 1856, including assent by King Edward VII to posthumous awards, the earliest back-dated to 1857 (Ensign Everard Lisle Phillipps VC, 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles, now part our sister Regiment - The Royal Green Jackets).
VCs are cast from the gunmetal of two Chinese cannon captured from the Russians during the Crimean War. Queen Victoria was intimately involved in the design, which she expressly wished to be simple and unpretentious. She also chose the motto, 'For Valour'.
1,354 VCs have been awarded - 1,350 to individuals, three of whom received a bar to their VC, and one to the American Unknown Warrior of the First World War. 837 VCs have been awarded to members of the British Army, 119 to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and 32 to the Royal Air Force and Royal Flying Corps. The Australian Forces have been awarded 91, the Canadian Forces 80, New Zealand Forces 22, and South African Forces 28. Members of the former Honourable East India Company and Indian Army received 137. Some 300 have been awarded posthumously.
It is increasingly rare for VCs to be awarded as the nature of warfare has changed from the hand to hand combat of the nineteenth century and the carnage of the battlefields of the First World War. Only one VC was awarded on D Day in 1944, whereas 24 were won on a single day - 16 November 1857 - at the relief of Lucknow (half of which were awarded to Light Infantry Regiments - 32nd and 53rd).
The last VCs awarded were in the Falklands campaign in 1982 to Lieutenant Colonel 'H' Jones and Sergeant Ian McKay of The Parachute Regiment. .
The Light Infantry is intensely proud of the fact that our former County Regiments had between them 43 holders of the Victoria Cross. The following are the names by Regiment, date and theatre where the individuals were decorated.
Private J Byrne DLI 5.11.1854 Crimea
Captain T de C Hamilton DLI 11.5.1855 Crimea
Corporal W Oxenham DCLI 30.6.1857 Lucknow
Private W Dowling DCLI 4.7.1857 Lucknow
Lieutenant S H Lawrence DCLI 7.7.1857 Lucknow
Captain H G Browne DCLI 21.8.1857 Lucknow
Sergeant D Dynon KSLI 2.10.1857 India
Lieutenant A K Ffrench KSLI 16.11.1857 Lucknow
Private J Kenny KSLI 16.11.1857 Lucknow
Private C Irwin KSLI 16.11.1857 Lucknow
Sergeant-Major C C Pye KSLI 17.11.1857 Lucknow
Sergeant W Napier Som LI 6.4.1858 India
Private T Carlin Som LI 6.4.1858 India
Sergeant J Murray DLI 21.6.1864 New Zealand
Acting Assistant Commissary J L Dalton (late KSLI) 22.1.1879 Rorke's Drift
Acting Assistant Commissary J.L. Dalton Commissariat and Transport Department (Late KSLI) and at Rorke's Drift
(Painting by Mark Churms)
Major W K Leet CB Som LI 28.3.1879 South Africa
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Major Leet SomLI VC |
Major Leet winning his VC by
saving a trooper, while
Lieutenant Duncombe holds back
the Zulu, during the Battle of Hlobane |
Private C Ward KOYLI 26.6.1900 South Africa
Lieutenant H A Carter DCLI 19.12.1903 Somaliland
Lieutenant C L Smith MC DCLI 10.1.1904 Somaliland
Major C A L Yate KOYLI 26.8.1914 France
Lance Corporal F W Holmes MM KOYLI 26.8.1914 France
Bandsman T E Rendle DCLI 20.11.1914 Belgium
Private T Kenny DLI 4.11.1915 France
Lieut Colonel R B Bradford MC DLI 1.10.1916 France
Private H Waller KOYLI 10.4.1917 France
Sergeant J W Ormsby MM KOYLI 14.4.1917 France
Private M Heaviside DLI 6.5.1917 France
2nd Lieutenant F Youens DLI 7.7.1917 Belgium
Private W Edwards KOYLI 16.8.1917 Belgium
Private T H Sage Som LI 4.10.1917 Belgium
Captain A M Lascelles MC DLI 3.12.1917 France
Private H Whitfield KSLI 10.3.1918 Egypt
Private T Young DLI 25.3.1918 France
Lieut Colonel O C S Watson DSO KOYLI 28.3.1918 France
Sergeant L Calvert MM KOYLI 12.9.1918 France
Lieut Colonel H Greenwood DSO OBE MC KOYLI 23.10.1918 France
Captain G Meynell MC KSLI 29.9.1935 India
2nd Lieutenant R W Annand DLI 15.5.1940 Belgium
Captain Dickie Annand as he is today
Private A H Wakenshaw DLI 27.6.1942 Western Desert
Lieutenant G A Cairns Som LI 13.3.1944 Burma
Sergeant G H Eardley MM KSLI 16.10.1944 NW Europe
Sergeant Eardley winning his VC - Overloon 1944
Private J Stokes KSLI 1.3.1945 Rhineland
Pte Stokes winning his VC - 1st March 1945
Lieutenant P K E Curtis DCLI 22.4.1951 Korea
To find out more on all recipients of the VC, visit the VC Website by clicking here. Note that the information contained within this external Website is not subject to Army policy or regulations.
THE GEORGE CROSS
The George Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant on the 24 September 1940.
King George VI had been greatly moved by the fortitude and courage displayed by many civilians and by those engaged in bomb and mine disposal duties during the Blitz, and wanted these outstanding acts of bravery to be suitably recognised. Several awards already existed for which civilians were eligible and which could also be given to servicemen and women for acts of great heroism performed in circumstances other than battle. These awards included the Empire Gallantry Medal, the Albert Medals for Saving Life on Land and at Sea and the Edward Medals for Mines and Industry, but none matched the distinction of the Victoria Cross. The King, with his advisors, decided to create a new decoration which would be equivalent in status with the VC.
In addition to the 43 Victoria Crosses, the KSLI and SomLI had between them 3 George Cross holders:
Captain R Deedes KSLI 7.1.1934 India
Private J H Silk Som LI 4.12.1943 Burma
Captain S Latutin Som LI 29.12.1944 Somaliland
THE GEORGE MEDAL
The George Medal was founded by King George VI in 1940, at the same time as the George Cross. The circumstances of award are exactly the same as those of the George Cross except that the act of gallantry for which the award is made need not be be of such a high order as that which would merit the award of the Cross.
Pte S James LI - 1970 Northern Ireland
THE MILITARY CROSS
The MC was instituted in December 1914 as a reward for gallantry for officers of the rank of Captain or below, and for Warrant Officers. Officers over the rank of Captain (Major and above) were eligible for the DSO. From 1940, the date of the award is engraved on the lower part of the cross.
In World War I there were 37,000 MCs awarded, with 3000 first bars, 170 second bars and 4 third bars. During World War II, approximately 10,000 MCs were awarded and 500 first bars.
All awards of the MC are listed in the London Gazette. Citations exist for the First World War awards.
Since 1993, this medal can be awarded to all qualifying Army ranks.
Major M J A Wilson MBE - 1972 Northern Ireland
Lieutenant D M B Ash LI - 1973 Northern Ireland
Lieutenant C A Downward LI - 1973 Northern Ireland
Captain D J Wood LI - 1991 Iraq
THE MILITARY MEDAL
The MM was instituted in March 1916 as an award for non-officer rank of the Army for acts of bravery. In the First World War the MM was awarded to a few recipients from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Some RAF personnel were awarded the MM during World War II. All MMs are issued named with the recipient's details impressed around the medal's rim.
During World War I, 115,000 MMs were awarded, with 5,800 first bars and 180 second bars. There was 1 award of the MM and 3 bars. World War II saw the award of 15,000 MMs with 164 first bars and 2 second bars.
Although all MMs awarded are listed in the London Gazette, the First World War MMs don't have citations. The Second World War MMs generally do have citations.
Following the 1993 review this medal has been replaced by the Military Cross, which is now available to all ranks.
Corporal N R Robson LI - 1973 Northern Ireland
Serjeant G R Smith LI - 1973 Northern Ireland
Corporal M Thompson LI - 1974 Northern Ireland
Warrant Officer Class 2 P Wharton LI - 1974 Northern Ireland
THE QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDAL
The Queen's Gallantry Medal was introduced on 20 June 1974 to award acts of bravery by civilians, although it can be awarded to military personnel. It is commonly awared to the military when not in direct contact with the enemy (such as bomb disposal or on peace support operations). With the introduction of this medal, the gallantry awards in the Order of the British Empire ceased. As with other gallantry medals, a bar is awarded for subsequent acts. The medal can also be awarded posthumously.
Private P B J Broome LI - 1975 Northern Ireland
Private W R Smith LI - 1975 Northern Ireland
Corporal M J Czepukojc LI - 1975 Northern Ireland
Serjeant M P G Fitzgerald LI - 1977 Northern Ireland
Lieutenant N Ilic LI - 1993 Bosnia Herzegovina
THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL
In 1922, the medal was divided into the Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for GALLANTRY (known as the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM)) and the Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service (BEM.). The EGM. was superceded by the George Cross in September 1940.
The BEM continued to be awarded for meritorious service after 1940 but also for gallantry, until the introduction of the QGM. The following BEM awards are for Gallantry.
Serjeant G Forsyth LI - 1972 Northern Ireland
Serjeant A R Leak LI - 1973 Northern Ireland
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Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, personnel must confirm details through the chain of command or with their Administrative Office before taking any action or making any commitment.
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Last Reviewed: 2 Feb 04
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